Proverbs 12:11 — Word Study
WLCעֹבֵ֣ד אַ֭דְמָתוֹ יִֽשְׂבַּֽע־ לָ֑חֶם וּמְרַדֵּ֖ף רֵיקִ֣ים חֲסַר־ לֵֽב׃
BSAThe one who worksʻâbad [tills, cultivates] his landʼădâmâh [the earth, soil] will have plenty ofsâbaʻ▸ foodlechem [bread, sustenance] but whoever chasesrâdaph [pursues, follows after] fantasiesrêyq [worthless things, empty pursuits] lackschâçêr [is void of, is without] judgmentlêb [understanding, discernment]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| עֹבֵ֣ד | [one who] works | Verb, Qal, participle (active) masculine singular |
| אַ֭דְמָתוֹ | land his | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| יִֽשְׂבַּֽע־ | he will be satisfied | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| לָ֑חֶם | food | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| וּמְרַדֵּ֖ף | and [one who] pursues | Conjunction, verb piel participle (active) masculine singular |
| רֵיקִ֣ים | worthless things | Adj |
| חֲסַר־ | [is] lacking of | Adj |
| לֵֽב׃ | heart | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies lacks judgment. |
| KJV | He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding. |
| ASV | He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread; But he that followeth after vain persons is void of understanding. |
| YLT | Whoso is tilling the ground is satisfied [with] bread, And whoso is pursuing vanities is lacking heart, |
| WEB | He who tills his land shall have plenty of bread, but he who chases fantasies is void of understanding. |
| BBE | He who does work on his land will not be short of bread; but he who goes after foolish men is without sense. |
Where they part company is חֲסַר־ — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has two main clauses connected by a conjunction, presenting a clear contrast between the diligent worker and the one who pursues empty dreams.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbעָבַד
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Proverbs 12:11
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Wisdom on Work and Judgmentgenerated
Proverbs 12:11 emphasizes the importance of hard work in securing sustenance, contrasting it with the futility of chasing after worthless things. This verse is part of a larger discourse in Proverbs that discusses the outcomes of righteous living versus wicked behavior, as seen in the surrounding verses.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 13:23 | Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor, but without justice it is swept away. |
| 2 | Proverbs 14:4–23 | Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of the ox. |
| 3 | Proverbs 27:27 | You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed you— food for your household and nourishment for your maidservants. |
| 4 | Proverbs 28:19 | The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty. |
| 5 | Genesis 3:19 | By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground— because out of it were you taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 19 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — עֹבֵ֣ד, 'o.Vedgenerated
The word עֹבֵ֣ד ('o.Ved) is a participle from the verb עָבַד (abad), meaning to work or serve. It indicates an active participant in labor, particularly in the context of cultivating land.
This term encompasses various forms of service, from agricultural work to serving God. The parsing as a masculine singular participle suggests an ongoing action, highlighting the continuous effort required in labor.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which translates the key phrases consistently. The BSB uses works for עֹבֵ֣ד and plenty of food for לָ֑חֶם.
Where translations differ, they do so primarily on the rendering of חֲסַר־. The BSB and KJV use lacks, while the ASV and others opt for is void of or is without, indicating a subtle difference in emphasis on absence.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of the verse is built around two main clauses, the first stating that the one who works his land will be satisfied, and the second contrasting this with the one who pursues worthless things. The finite verbs יִֽשְׂבַּֽע and מְרַדֵּ֖ף anchor each clause.
The sentence emphasizes the outcomes of each subject's actions, with a clear cause-and-effect relationship between diligent work and satisfaction versus empty pursuits and lack of judgment.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates עֹבֵ֣ד as ἐργαζόμενος (ergazomenos), which directly conveys the idea of working. This choice aligns with the Hebrew meaning of laboring.
For חֲסַר־, the LXX uses ἐνδεεῖς (endeis), which emphasizes a state of need or lack, reinforcing the idea of deficiency in judgment.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 12:11 teaches that those who work hard on their land will have enough food, while those who chase after empty dreams will find themselves lacking in good judgment. This highlights the value of diligence and the futility of pursuing worthless things.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Working one's land refers to cultivating and tending to the earth to produce food, emphasizing the importance of hard work in achieving sustenance.
Worthless things refer to empty pursuits or fantasies that do not yield any real benefit or satisfaction, contrasting with the productive efforts of working the land.
The verse suggests that those who chase after empty pursuits lack sound judgment, implying that wisdom and discernment come from engaging in meaningful work.
The heart represents understanding and discernment, indicating that a lack of judgment stems from pursuing things that do not fulfill or satisfy.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I need to apply diligence to see fruitful results?
- What are some empty pursuits I might be chasing that distract me from meaningful work?
- How can I cultivate a heart of discernment to make better judgments in my daily decisions?
- What practical steps can I take to focus more on productive activities rather than worthless fantasies?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Bede comments on this verse, suggesting that diligent work leads to spiritual satisfaction and rewards.
He who works his land, etc. Who exercises his soul with spiritual studies will now be satisfied with virtues and then with the feasts of rewards.Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 12 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 12:11 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHe that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread,.... This was man's work in innocence; this he was doomed to do with the sweat of his brow after his fall; every man has his land to till, or
Read John Gill on Proverbs 12 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHe that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding. He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 12 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThat tilleth his land; that employeth his time and strength in an honest calling. That followeth vain persons; that useth their society and idle course of living. Is void of understanding; shall through his own folly want bread.
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 12 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 12:11 He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain [persons is] void of understanding.Ver. 11. He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied, &c.] This is true of all other lawful callings, manual or mental, - the sweat of the brow or of the brain. Sin brought in sweat, and now not to sweat increaseth sin. Men must earn their bread before they eat it, and be diligent in their callings to serve God and men, themselves and others, with the fatness and sweetness thereof, and then they have a promise they shall be fed. But he that followeth vain persons, &c.] It is hard to be a good fellow and a good husband too. Qui aequo animo malis immiscetur…
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 12 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(11) Vain persons.—Or, things, such as “searching for hid treasures” (Proverbs 2:4).
Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 12 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 11. He that tilleth his land] God's blessing will be in the labour of the honest agriculturist. But he that followeth vain persons] He who, while he should be cultivating his ground, preparing for a future crop, or reaping his harvest, associates with fowlers, coursers of hares, hunters of foxes, or those engaged in any champaign amusements, is void of understanding; and I have known several such come to beggary. To this verse the Septuagint add the following clause: οςεστινηδυςενοινωνδιατριβαις, εντοιςεαυτουοχυρωμασικαταλειψειατιμιαν. "He who is a boon companion in banquets, shall leave dishonour in his own fortresses." This has been copied by the Vulgate and the Arabic. That is The…
Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 12 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges11. vain persons] We may either supply persons, with A.V. and R.V. text: or things, with R.V. marg. and LXX. μάταια, Vulg. sectatur otium, and in accordance with the usage of this Book in following the Heb. verb here employed by an accus. of a thing, Proverbs 11:19, Proverbs 15:9. In the former case the argument expanded will be: To keep bad company argues want of understanding, because it leads not to plenty but to lack of bread. In the latter case we may understand by vain things, idle, useless occupations, thus preserving the contrast to the honest labour of the former clause of the verse. The LXX. and Vulg. have an interesting addition: “He that takes pleasure in tarrying long at the…
Read Cambridge on Proverbs 12 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThe contrast is carried on between the life of industry and that of the idle, “vain person” of the “baser sort” (the “Raca” of Matthew 5:22).
Read Albert Barnes on Proverbs 12 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies lacks judgment.
He who tills his land shall have plenty of bread, but he who chases fantasies is void of understanding.
The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies lacks judgment.
The one who works his field will have plenty of food, but whoever chases daydreams lacks wisdom.
Tyndale line
He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.
He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread; But he that followeth after vain persons is void of understanding.
He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons is void of understanding.
He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.
He that tilleth his lande, shalbe satisfied with bread: but he that followeth the idle, is destitute of vnderstanding.
Strictly literal
He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread; but he that followeth the worthless is void of understanding.
Whoso is tilling the ground is satisfied [with] bread, And whoso is pursuing vanities is lacking heart,
Whoever is tilling the ground is satisfied [with] bread, || And whoever is pursuing vanities is lacking heart,
He that tilleth his ground will be satisfied with bread; but he that runneth after idle persons is void of sense.
The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases after worthless projects has no sense.
From the Latin
He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that pursueth idleness is very foolish. He that is delighted in passing his time over wine, leaveth a reproach in his strong holds.
Simplified
If you cultivate the land you'll have plenty of food, but if you chase after worthless things you're stupid.
He who does work on his land will not be short of bread; but he who goes after foolish men is without sense.
Word by word, the decisions they made
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree in the wording of this verse, with all eight Hebrew words matched in the Greek translation. This consistency suggests a shared understanding of the verse's message across these texts.
עֹבֵ֣ד אַ֭דְמָתוֹ יִֽשְׂבַּֽע־ לָ֑חֶם וּמְרַדֵּ֖ף רֵיקִ֣ים חֲסַר־ לֵֽב׃
8 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Proverbs 12:11
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
עָבַד (abad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to work or serve, encompassing a range of activities from laboring for others to serving God, including Levitical service. It can also refer to the cultivation of land or the act of enslaving. The word appears in various forms, indicating different nuances of service and labor.
עָבַד 290 vb. work, serve
Qal
labour, work, do work
work for another, serve him by labour
serve as subjects
serve God
serve י׳ with Levitical service
Niph.
be tilled, of land
dub. cultivated field
Pu. worked
Hiph.
compel to labour as slaves
make to serve as subjects
cause to serve God
Hoph. be led or enticed to serve
base
H5647 עָבַד work, serve .. labour, work, do work
. work for another, serve him by labour
. serve as subjects
. serve God
. serve י׳ with Levitical service
. . be tilled, of land
. dub. cultivated field
. worked
. . compel to labour as slaves
. make to serve as subjects
. cause to serve God
. be led or enticed to serve
5647 `abad aw-bad'
a primitive root; to work (in any sense); by implication, to
serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.:--X be, keep in
bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear,
execute, + husbandman, keep, labour(-ing man, bring to pass,
(cause to, make to) serve(-ing, self), (be, become)
servant(-s), do (use) service, till(-er), transgress (from
margin), (set a) work, be wrought, worshipper,
עָבַד (a.vad) — to serve.
: serve[someone]
1) to work, serve
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to labour, work, do work
1a2) to work for another, serve another by labour
1a3) to serve as subjects
1a4) to serve (God)
1a5) to serve (with Levitical service)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be worked, be tilled (of land)
1b2) to make oneself a servant
1c) (Pual) to be worked
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to compel to labour or work, cause to labour, cause to serve
1d2) to cause to serve as subjects
1e) (Hophal) to be led or enticed to serve
עָבַד (a.vad) — to serve: minister.
: minister/serve[God/tabernacle/temple]/worship
1) to work, serve
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to labour, work, do work
1a2) to work for another, serve another by labour
1a3) to serve as subjects
1a4) to serve (God)
1a5) to serve (with Levitical service)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be worked, be tilled (of land)
1b2) to make oneself a servant
1c) (Pual) to be worked
1d) (Hiphil)
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singularHVqrmsa
→ GOOD
Jesus an example of Joh 10:32; Ac 10:38
Holy women should manifest 1Ti 2:10; 5:10
In the judgment, will be an evidence of faith Mt 25:34-40; with Jas 2:14-20
Servants should be patterns of Tit 2:7
אֲדָמָה (adamah) refers to ground or land, encompassing meanings such as tilled soil, a specific plot of land, and the earth's visible surface. It can denote territory or the whole inhabited earth, and it is also the name of a city in Naphtali. The word is derived from a root meaning 'red,' likely referring to the color of soil.
אֲדָמָה 224 n.f. ground, land (as tilled)
ground (as tilled, yielding sustenance)
piece of ground, landed property
earth as material substance
ground as earth's visible surface
land, territory, country
whole earth, inhabited earth
n. pr. loc. city in Naphtali
base
H127 אֲדָמָה ground, land . ground (as tilled, yielding sustenance)
. piece of ground, landed property
. earth as material substance
. ground as earth's visible surface
. land, territory, country
. whole earth, inhabited earth
. n. pr. loc. city in Naphtali
127 'adamah ad-aw-maw'
from 119; soil (from its general redness):--country, earth,
ground, husband(-man) (-ry), land.
see HEBREW for 0119
אֲדָמָה (a.da.mah) — land: soil.
: soil
1) ground, land
1a) ground (as general, tilled, yielding sustenance)
1b) piece of ground, a specific plot of land
1c) earth substance (for building or constructing)
1d) ground as earth's visible surface
1e) land, territory, country
1f) whole inhabited earth
1g) city in Naphtali
אֲדָמָה (a.da.mah) — land: country.
: country
1) ground, land
1a) ground (as general, tilled, yielding sustenance)
1b) piece of ground, a specific plot of land
1c) earth substance (for building or constructing)
1d) ground as earth's visible surface
1e) land, territory, country
1f) whole inhabited earth
1g) city in Naphtali
אֲדָמָה (a.da.mah) — land: planet.
: planet
1) ground, land
1a) ground (as general, tilled, yielding sustenance)
1b) piece of ground, a specific plot of land
1c) earth substance (for building or constructing)
1d) ground as earth's visible surface
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp3ms
שָׂבֵעַ (saba`) means to be sated or satisfied, particularly in relation to food. It can also imply having one's desires fulfilled or being surfeited with excess. The verb has various forms, including Qal, Piel, and Hiphil, which cover meanings from simply being full to enriching or satisfying others. The entries indicate a focus on both literal and figurative senses of satisfaction.
[שָׂבֵעַ], שָׂבַע 96 vb. be sated, satisfied, surfeited
Qal 79
be sated (with food), esp. human subj.
more gen., be sated, have desire satisfied
have in excess, be surfeited with
Niph. Pt. sated
Pi. satisfy
Hiph.
satisfy (esp. with material blessings), subj. י׳
c. acc. of food pers., י׳ subj.
י׳ subj.
י׳ subj., c. acc. of beasts
enrich
sate, glut (with the undesired)
base
H7646 שָׂבֵעַ, שָׂבַע be sated, satisfied, surfeited .. be sated (with food), esp. human subj.
. more gen., be sated, have desire satisfied
. have in excess, be surfeited with
. Pt. sated
. satisfy
. . . satisfy (esp. with material blessings), subj. י׳
. c. acc. of food + pers., י׳ subj.
. י׳ subj.
. י׳ subj., c. acc. of beasts
. enrich
. sate, glut (with the undesired)
7646 saba` saw-bah'
or sabeay {saw-bay'-ah}; a primitive root; to sate, i.e. fill
to satisfaction (literally or figuratively):--have enough,
fill (full, self, with), be (to the) full (of), have plenty
of, be satiate, satisfy (with), suffice, be weary of.
שָׂבֵעַ (sa.va) — to satisfy.
1) to be satisfied, be sated, be fulfilled, be surfeited
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be sated (with food)
1a2) to be sated, be satisfied with, be fulfilled, be filled, have one's fill of (have desire satisfied)
1a3) to have in excess, be surfeited, be surfeited with
1a3a) to be weary of (fig)
1b) (Piel) to satisfy
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to satisfy
1c2) to enrich
1c3) to sate, glut (with the undesired)
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms
לֶ֫חֶם (lechem) means bread or food, encompassing items like grain and provisions for both humans and animals. It is derived from a related root and is used in various contexts, particularly in the Old Testament. The entries consistently emphasize its primary association with bread, though they also acknowledge its broader meaning as food.
לֶ֫חֶם 296 n.m. and (rarely) f. bread, food
base
H3899 לֶ֫חֶם bread, food
3899 lechem lekh'-em
from 3898; food (for man or beast), especially bread, or
grain (for making it):--((shew-))bread, X eat, food, fruit,
loaf, meat, victuals. See also 1036.
see HEBREW for 03898
see HEBREW for 01036
לֶ֫חֶם (le.chem) — food.
: food(eating)
1) bread, food, grain
1a) bread
1a1) bread
1a2) bread-corn
1b) food (in general)
לֶ֫חֶם (le.chem) — food: bread.
: bread/loaf
1) bread, food, grain
1a) bread
1a1) bread
1a2) bread-corn
1b) food (in general)
לֶ֫חֶם (le.chem) — food: allowance.
: allowance
1) bread, food, grain
1a) bread
1a1) bread
1a2) bread-corn
1b) food (in general)
N-cs — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
food:
I. VEGETABLE FOODS
1. Primitive Habits
2. Cereals
3. Leguminous Plants
4. Food of Trees
II. ANIMAL FOOD
LITERATURE
In a previous article (see BREAD) it has been shown that in the Bible "bread" usually stands for food in general and how this came to be so. In a complementary article on MEALS the methods of preparing and serving food will be dealt with. This article is devoted specifically to the foodstuffs of the Orient, more especially to articles of food in use among the Hebrews in Bible times. These are divisible into two main classes.
Food
Originally the Creator granted the use of the vegetable world for food to man (Gen. 1:29), with the exception mentioned (2:17). The use of animal food was probably not unknown to the antediluvians. There is, however, a distinct law on the subject given to Noah after the Deluge (Gen. 9:2-5). Various articles of food used in the patriarchal age are mentioned in Gen. 18:6-8; 25:34; 27:3, 4; 43:11. Regarding the food of the Israelites in Egypt, see Ex. 16:3; Num. 11:5. In the wilderness their ordinary food was miraculously supplied in the manna. They had also quails (Ex.…
The diet of eastern nations has been in all ages light and simple. Vegetable food was more used than animal. The Hebrews used a great variety of articles, (John 21:5) to give a relish to bread. Milk and its preparations hold a conspicuous place in eastern diet, as affording substantial nourishment; generally int he form of the modern leben , i.e. sour milk. Authorized Version "butter;" (Genesis 18:8; Judges 5:25; 2 Samuel 17:29) Fruit was another source of subsistence: figs stood first in point of importance; they were generally dried and pressed into cakes. Grapes were generally eaten in a dried state as raisins. Of vegetables we have most frequent notice of lentils…
In ancient the food of a people was more entirely the product of their own country than in our day. Palestine was favored with an abundance of animal food, grain, and vegetables. But throughout the East, vegetable food is more used than animal. Bread was the principal food. Grain of various kinds, beans, lentils, onions, grapes, together with olive oil, honey, and the milk of goats and cows were the ordinary fare. The wandering Arabs live much upon a coarse black bread. A very common dish in Syria is rice, with shreds of meat, vegetables, olive oil, etc., intermixed. A similar dish, made with beans, lentils, and various kinds of pulse, was in frequent use at an earlier age, Ge 25:29-34 2Ki 4:38-1.
רָדַף (radaph) is a Hebrew verb meaning to pursue, chase, or persecute. It conveys the idea of running after something, often with hostile intent, and can also figuratively refer to following time or securing something. The word has various forms, including Qal, Niphal, Piel, Pual, and Hiphil, each indicating different nuances of pursuit or being pursued.
רָדַף 141 vb. pursue, chase, persecute
Qal 128
pursue
lit. put to flight, chase
lit., the pursuers
chase, hunt
pursue
fig. persecute, harass
pursue, dog
fig. follow after, aim to secure
Niph. upon the neck (i.e. closely) we are pursued
Pi. pursue ardently
Pu. it shall be chased away like chaff of the mountains
Hiph. usu. they chased him
base
H7291 רָדַף pursue, chase, persecute
7291 radaph raw-daf'
a primitive root; to run after (usually with hostile intent;
figuratively (of time) gone by):--chase, put to flight,
follow (after, on), hunt, (be under) persecute(-ion, -or),
pursue(-r).
רָדַף (ra.daph) — to pursue.
1) to be behind, follow after, pursue, persecute, run after
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to pursue, put to flight, chase, dog, attend closely upon
1a2) to persecute, harass (fig)
1a3) to follow after, aim to secure (fig)
1a4) to run after (a bribe) (fig)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be pursued
1b2) one pursued (participle)
1c) (Piel) to pursue ardently, aim eagerly to secure, pursue
1d) (Pual) to be pursued, be chased away
1e) (Hiphil) to pursue, chase
Conj | V-Piel — Conjunction · verb piel participle (active) masculine singularHC/Vprmsa
רֵיק (reyq) means empty or vain, often referring to something that is worthless or idle. It can describe physical emptiness, such as vessels, as well as ethical worthlessness. The word is derived from a root meaning to empty, and it appears in contexts that highlight its figurative implications.
[רֵיק], רֵק adj. empty, vain
base
H7386 [רֵיק], רֵק empty, vain
7386 reyq rake
or (shorter) req {rake}; from 7324; empty; figuratively,
worthless:--emptied(-ty), vain (fellow, man).
see HEBREW for 07324
רֵיק (req) — worthless.
1) empty, vain
1a) empty (of vessels)
1b) empty, idle, worthless (ethically)
Adj — AdjHAampa
חָסֵר (chacer) means 'lacking' or 'needy.' It conveys a sense of being without something essential, such as in need or want. The word is built from the root that indicates deficiency or absence. It appears in contexts where something is missing or required.
חָסֵר adj. needy, lacking, in want of
base
H2638 חָסֵר
2638 chacer khaw-sare'
from 2637; lacking; hence, without:--destitute, fail, lack,
have need, void, want.
see HEBREW for 02637
חָסֵר (cha.ser) — lacking.
in need of, lacking, needy, in want of
Adj — AdjHAamsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
The Hebrew word לֵב (lev) means 'heart' and encompasses the inner man, mind, will, and emotions. It refers to the center of feelings, intellect, and moral character, as well as the seat of appetites and courage. The entries suggest a broad range of meanings related to human experience and thought, with a specific mention of its use in Jeremiah 51:1.
לֵב 599 n.m. (f.) inner man, mind, will, heart
seldom of things in the midst of the sea
elsewhere of men
the inner man in contrast with the outer
the inner man, indef., soul, comprehending mind, affections and will
specific reference to mind
spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will
spec. ref. to conscience
[various]
for the man himself
as seat of appetites
as seat of emotions and passions
seat of courage
base
לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash Je 51:1.
ref
H3820a לֵב inner man, mind, will, heart . seldom of things in the midst of the sea
. elsewhere of men . the inner man in contrast with the outer
. the inner man, indef., soul, comprehending mind, affections and will
. specific reference to mind
. spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will
. spec. ref. to conscience
. [various]
. for the man himself
. as seat of appetites
. as seat of emotions and passions
. seat of courage
H3820b לֵב קָמָי prob. late Atbash
3820 leb labe
a form of 3824; the heart; also used (figuratively) very
widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect;
likewise for the centre of anything:--+ care for, comfortably,
consent, X considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-),
(hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart((-ed)), X
heed, X I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), X regard((-ed)), X
themselves, X unawares, understanding, X well, willingly,
wisdom.
see HEBREW for 03824
לֵב (lev) — heart.
1) inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding
1a) inner part, midst
1a1) midst (of things)
1a2) heart (of man)
1a3) soul, heart (of man)
1a4) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory
1a5) inclination, resolution, determination (of will)
1a6) conscience
1a7) heart (of moral character)
1a8) as seat of appetites
1a9) as seat of emotions and passions 1a10) as seat of courage
לֵב (lev) — Leb.
§ Leb- = "heart of"
(probably a cryptic name for Babylon by Atbash)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
hart (lebh, lebhabh; kardia): The different senses in which the word occurs in the Old Testament and the New Testament may be grouped under the following heads:
1. Various Meanings:
It represents in the first place the bodily organ, and by easy transition those experiences which affect or are affected by the body. Fear, love, courage, anger, Joy, sorrow, hatred are always ascribed to the heart--especially in the Old Testament; thus courage for which usually ruach is used (Ps 27:14); joy (Ps 4:7); anger (De 19:6, "while his heart is hot," lebhabh); fear (1Sa 25:37); sorrow (Ps 13:2), etc.
Heart
According to the Bible, the heart is the centre not only of spiritual activity, but of all the operations of human life. “Heart” and “soul” are often used interchangeably (Deut. 6:5; 26:16; comp. Matt. 22:37; Mark 12:30, 33), but this is not generally the case.
The heart is the “home of the personal life,” and hence a man is designated, according to his heart, wise (1 Kings 3:12, etc.), pure (Ps. 24:4; Matt. 5:8, etc.), upright and righteous (Gen. 20:5, 6;